Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by willep 2012-06-18 01:25:01

Darn Australia for Geoffrey Rush's home so he does so many shows there. Haha. But really...

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by broadwayrob 2012-06-18 06:04:11

Honestly, I think we can apply my "Geoffrey Rush Rule" to this production. That rule states that 95 percent of everything that Geoffrey Rush does is going to be sheer brilliance. I'm sure that this will be no different. Very jealous of you Aussies.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by ClapYo'Hands 2012-06-18 06:07:02

"Sondheim will attend the opening of an envelope"

Haha!

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by dreaming 2012-06-18 08:56:46

Who's to say Rush won't come over to the States and perform here? He did come over with "Exit the King". I have no doubt that if schedules can be arranged and there is a demand for a revival of Forum with Rush, that some producers will attempt to entice him over here.

Let's hope all that happens!

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by wonkit 2012-06-18 08:59:24

Don't like FORUM but I adore Rush, ever since EXIT THE KING.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by TalkinLoud 2012-06-18 10:14:43

Would love to see this. It's about ripe for a revival, in Sondheim years it's way overdue.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by Jon 2012-06-18 15:03:04

I'd love to see Geoffrey Rush as Fagin in OLIVER.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by emida 2012-06-18 15:38:47

This is exciting!

Off-topic : I'd love to see Rush as Henry Higgins in a My Fair Lady revival.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by Vespertine1228 2012-06-18 18:38:48

Am I the only person who thinks that the announcement that Sondheim will attend being in the press release is a little ridiculous? I mean, why does that really matter at all?

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by qolbinau 2012-06-18 18:43:29

It seems interesting that a US based composer would fly to Australia (it's a long flight) to see the show, and suggests it will be 'good'/'important'.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by sueb1863 2012-06-18 19:23:11

I love Geoffrey Rush, but - he's 61. Isn't that a little - um, mature - to be playing Psuedelos?

I thought maybe he'd be playing Senex, the lecherous father.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by alterego 2012-06-19 00:05:32

Good call Jon.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by rosscoe(au) 2012-06-19 03:03:11

Expect this to be filmed and shown as fathom event in the States, plans are underway and full DVD release as well.

Plus this will be a Melbourne only season, and late the following year we may see Mr Rush in drag once again!

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by BwayGeek2 2012-06-21 10:57:21

This sounds awesome. I wish I could see this.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by qolbinau 2012-10-31 03:43:15

The show is wonderful (sparse review, indeed). It has a couple of Broadway producers (including Jerry Frankel) but everyone is publicly insisting the production won't be seen outside of Melbourne (live, at least). What a great way to experience a new (old) Sondheim show for the first time. I hope the production is mounted with Rush elsewhere.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by GavestonPS 2012-10-31 07:34:29

I love Geoffrey Rush, but - he's 61. Isn't that a little - um, mature - to be playing Psuedelos?

Does Pseudolus' age matter? Can't somebody of any age want to be free?

Milton Berle played the role in South Florida when he was 65. He wasn't the ideal casting for other reasons (though he was very funny to a certain audience and sold every ticket), but I don't remember his age being an issue.

Zero Mostel originated the part in his mid-40s; Phil Silvers was 61 when the show was first revived on Broadway in 1972. Is there something in the script I'm not remembering?

P.S. to wonkit: since you don't like FORUM, you probably haven't seen a good production. It's pretty irresistible, even to those of us who don't generally like low comedy.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by TalkinLoud 2012-10-31 08:33:37

Any further word on this being filmed?

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by henrikegerman 2012-10-31 10:37:47

Just want to add my name to those who think this is "wow" casting.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by qolbinau 2012-10-31 15:31:22

For me Geoffrey being old added to the role. (I'd never seen it before, so I don't know if this is common but:) In this production he is depicted as being particularly decrepit, so it seems like it's his last chance at being 'free'. And the scenes with the Lycus girls are even funnier considering his age, for me.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by GavestonPS 2012-10-31 18:19:40

Doesn't a "decrepit" Pseudolus ruin the timing as Pseudolus has to run faster and faster to keep his schemes from being discovered?

I think Pseudous should be a credible "foster father" to Hero, but not compete with Erronius for Oldest Man in the World.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by qolbinau 2012-10-31 18:35:02

Sorry I should clarify by decrepit I mean kind of unkept and maybe a little bit mistreated/less favoured throughout the years (not by Hero of course, maybe his parents) - at least, compared to the head slave - his clothes were noticeably tackier, he had a bandage on his leg, he was dirty.

It felt as if he had been a slave for a long time, so to me it made sense he had enough and wanted to be 'free'. He didn't lack energy or seem physically impaired or anything (perhaps decrepit was the wrong word)

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by GavestonPS 2012-10-31 18:46:45

Not at all, q. I think we were just using different meanings of the word and I was curious. I'm not really a fan of broad comedy but FORUM wins me over with the brilliant timing of its libretto. I'm glad to hear that was intact.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by EricMontreal22 2012-10-31 20:39:54

"P.S. to wonkit: since you don't like FORUM, you probably haven't seen a good production. It's pretty irresistible, even to those of us who don't generally like low comedy."

I know at least one person on here who disagrees (hint: his name is a type of chocolate).

But I completely agree. I admit, I never apreciated it, until I played Miles in a high school production (a role I ended up playing twice more--both times replacement for sick cast members, and someone involved knew I knew the role--and while I don't have a huge stage history, I've never had as much fun). But I had also never seen it (except for the bloated film--which does have a few funny bits). For what it is, I really think it's pretty flawless (yes the book steals the show, so to speak, but the songs are great, as well).

I would sayit's a hard show to **** up, but I used to feel that way about Guys and Dolls too, until I saw a row of bad productions... Of the two pro productions I saw, one was very good (the weak link was Miles--but maybe I was biased as I had just played the role), and the other, at Regent's Park 12 or so years back in London, was brilliant, filled with classic, older London actors (their Pseudoles must have been in his 60s as well).

And I'm not a fan of broad, or physical, or vaudeville style comedy, in general, either.

Oh, I do disike Tunick's orchestrations for the revival. They're by no means bad, but I sorta just loved the low comedy sound that the original violin-less orchestrations had.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by qolbinau 2012-10-31 20:49:26

I definitely agree that the book steals the show. A big deal is made that Sondheim's contribution to the show was kind of ignored at the time, and I think I can see why. Although a few of the songs are funny (e.g. "Impossible" - which seems a bit like a precursor to "It would have been Wonderful" in NIGHT MUSIC), I don't find many of the lyrics in the other songs particularly funny (e.g. "Lovely"), at least in comparison to how humour is dong in songs today (E.g. THE BOOK OF MORMON, AVENUE Q). I don't know, I kind of felt the score felt disconnected from the hilarity of the book......

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by vegas2 2012-10-31 21:10:47

Loves me some Geoffrey Rush.

Pleez let this come to the U.S. . . .

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by EricMontreal22 2012-10-31 22:33:53

Q, as Sondheim always says, his songs actually serve as a break, or respite, from the action in Forum--the opposite of the R&H integrated musical form. And I think that's largely really true. There are some really clever lyrics, like Free (please tell me they kept Pretty little Picture, unlike the last Broadway revival), but unlike the libretto, none of them are really laugh out loud.

Most of the best songs are funny, due to the situation more than the song itself, IMHO. I loved playing Miles, particularly in one production, because it always got a great reaction but that was due at least as much to how it was staged (one thing that's annoying about the role is you have to be there for Comedy Tonight, and then have nothing to do for over an hour...)

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by qolbinau 2012-10-31 22:43:51

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by GavestonPS 2012-10-31 22:50:36

Personally and off the top of my head, I love:

The justly famous opening; "Love, I Hear" "Lovely" ("Lovely is the one thing I can do.") "Bring Me My Bride" ("I am a parade.") "Impossible", and "Dirty Old Man of Mine"

And "Everybody Ought to Have a Maid" ends with me laughing out loud despite my better judgment.

It's true the lyrics aren't brilliantly clever like those in FOLLIES or NIGHT MUSIC, but if they were, the style of humor would clash with the book. I think Sondheim's work is very underrated; it's true that FORUM isn't a score I listen to on its own like I do with his later shows, but in the show, I think it's actually rather brilliant.

***

And of course people are entitled to dislike the show, just as they have every right to dislike any show. What I really meant is that *I* find FORUM has a way of sneaking up on one, even someone like me who isn't a fan of antique comedy.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by MusicalMo 2012-10-31 23:26:19

Is someone who has seen the show able to post of photo of the title page? I'm curious to see who all the producers are and the designers, etc. Thanks!!

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by EricMontreal22 2012-11-01 00:01:30

"It's true the lyrics aren't brilliantly clever like those in FOLLIES or NIGHT MUSIC, but if they were, the style of humor would clash with the book. I think Sondheim's work is very underrated; it's true that FORUM isn't a score I listen to on its own like I do with his later shows, but in the show, I think it's actually rather brilliant. "

Well said, and I absolutely agree. Actually, being Miles I never really appreciated the Funeral Song till I performed it--that one kinda surprised me. Of course it's very very abbreviated on the OBCR (from what I remember).

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by devonian.t 2012-11-01 02:52:43

Since we're praising the book so much, can we please mention Larry Gelbart who wrote it?

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by qolbinau 2012-11-01 02:53:58

What about Burt Shevelove?

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by GavestonPS 2012-11-01 18:18:33

I mentioned Shevelove on the previous page; I think of him first because he is quoted at length in SONDHEIM & CO. Didn't mean to slight Gelbart.

My bad. I hope it helps that I loved M*A*S*H.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by LimelightMike 2012-11-01 18:26:20

...Could *THIS* be taking the Sondheim Theatre?

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by Jon 2012-11-02 08:55:10

Magda Szubanska, who played Farmer Hoggett's wife in the movie BABE, is playing Domina!

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by alterego 2012-11-02 09:12:13

...and is miscast.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by qolbinau 2012-11-02 18:47:57

The audience absolutely loves her, so it doesn't matter. But she is easily the least professional performer on stage. In both performances I saw she would not be able to help herself from laughing on stage, and she would go over the top ad libbing when she'd make mistakes - which the audience adored. She also couldn't sing her song very well.

I don't know, I suppose I enjoyed those parts too, and it is 'low comedy' not DEATH OF A SALESMAN so it doesn't really matter.

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by GavestonPS 2012-11-02 18:51:09

qolbinau, oh, I think it matters. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.

What I meant to say was that not even Milton Berle's antics could destroy the show because the book and score are so strong. I didn't mean to imply that everything Berle did was justified, not by any means. (The jokes about Joe's Crab Shack did nothing for me.)

Geoffrey Rush to star in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..in Australia..Sondheim to attend..Posted by qolbinau 2012-12-15 20:04:02